Aspects of Games

I recently watched the video of Max Temkin speaking about the creation of Cards Against Humanity at the XOXO Conference. He claimed that him and his group of friends invented the Humans vs. Zombies game that I used to see students at Chico play on campus!! I thought that was very cool. Today, the Humans vs. Zombies game is being played at over 700 university campuses across the country.  Max Temkin and his group of friends created Humans vs. Zombies and Cards Against Humanity by using just three simple aspects: values, strategies, and tactics.

I think we should use these aspects as our foundation for the game we are creating. I am graduating from Chico next month and I cannot help but feel nostalgic and jealous towards the incoming freshmen. I have had an amazing college experience and I want each and every one of the freshmen participating in EPIC to feel excited and happy about this new chapter in their lives.

As a class, I think we should brainstorm what we really value about our college experience. The “college experience” is all encompassing. It’s not all about just one thing. It’s a time for us to grow academically, professionally, spiritually, socially, athletically….etc. The list could go on forever. The game that these freshmen will participate in should give them a glimpse of all the possibilities that come with being a Chico State student.

After deciding what we believe is the most valuable about our experience at Chico State, we need to strategize. I came up with an idea to play a game similar to the board game Clue. I have also been thinking that it would be fun to have some sort of relay race? Like the TV show “The Amazing Race”. The players on that show are always running around an unknown city but learning as they go and bonding with their teammate. This situation is similar to what the freshmen will be in.

Next, we would have to think of how we would go about achieving our purpose (tactics) The purpose of this game is to give the freshmen an opportunity to make new friends, feel comfortable in their new home, and to learn about what it’s like living in Chico. If we decide to do  “The Amazing Race” kinda game we would need mentors carefully placed at specific locations so that the groups could receive their next clue. At the end of the “race”, I think we should hold a pizza party or BBQ at Bidwell or somewhere on campus. The top groups could get their food first or something.

I also listened to a podcast from Radiolab titled “The Rules Can Set You Free”. They stressed the importance of tension in a game. That one moment when it seems like your life is hanging in the balances. We need to create that urgency and tension in the game we create. That’s why I think “The Amazing Race” style game would be fun because at times you have to arrive at a location before someone else otherwise you might not get what you need to proceed to the next location.

The most important thing to keep in mind while creating this game are the freshmen who will be playing it. I am excited to help the incoming freshmen find their niche at Chico State! Let’s do it!!